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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - June 13, 1994 Page - 3 - PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) alternative but to raise these taxes and said the Finance Committee has done a thorough job of analyzing the budget. The City Clerk read a letter addressed to Vice Mayor Myers from Mayor Corbett. Mayor Corbett said she supports the proposed revisions to the Transient Occupancy and Utility Users Taxes. She commended the Finance Committee for its work on the budget process. She said the 1994-94 Budget Strategies approved by the City Council on March 7, 1994 served as the basis for preparing a balanced budget that continues current service levels and adds important public safety programs, including two police officers and a seismic strengthening of residential and commercial structures program. Council Member Perry said none of the Council like to raise fees or taxes. She said, having been a member of Finance Committee in the past, going through the budget, and getting input from the community, she feels some of the alternatives, such as cutting police officers, are not acceptable. She said the Utility Tax is based on usage and everyone share the pain, not just property owners. She noted this tax was looked at over a year ago and the Council decided not to trigger it. She said she supported the tax increase. Council Member Loeffler asked how much of the $700,000 was based on Cable TV and how much based on other utilities. Mr. Jermanis said it was about 50-50; he further noted that property owners, renters and businesses pay this tax. Council Member Loeffler said he supports the Cable TV tax because Cable TV is a luxury, but has difficulty with taxing utilities. He expressed concern with what he perceives to be an increase in City personnel during lean times and therefore has a problem supporting tax increases. He said the public is prepared to accept cutbacks. He said additional police officers are not essential at this time, given budget constraints. He said he supports the tax on Cable TV but not on utilities. Vice Mayor Myers said he served on the Finance Committee for the last two years. He said last year the Council was criticized for not fulfilling all the recommendations of the Task Force. He was on the committee that studied the Utility Tax when it increased from 5 to 6% on businesses, and there was a lot of discussion at that time. He said we are all working together for the betterment of San Leandro and he supports the Utility Tax. In response to City Council questions, Mr. Jermanis repeated that he and the City Manager had offered to meet with the Marina Inn and bring any concerns back to Council . He noted that the reallocation of Transient Occupancy Taxes to the Marina Fund is intended to bring long- term financial stability to the Marina area. Council Member Galvan said he struggled with this matter, but he feels the other choices are unacceptable. He said police officers are necessary. He said he supports the Utility Tax increase but agrees